Honey bee swarms — it’s that time of year

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, March 23, 2010

During the spring and summer months each year large clusters of honey bees are sometimes found hanging from limbs of trees, the eaves of homes, under lawn furniture, on car bumpers and other objects.

The act that caused the honey bees to cluster outside of their hive is called “swarming”; it is a natural occurrence among honey bees.

There are many reasons for swarming - the hive has become overpopulated and congested; the colony has become diseased or is starving, or in some instances natural causes such as a forest fire may prompt the entire colony to swarm. The purpose of the act of swarming, no matter what the cause, is to perpetuate species.

Swarming usually takes place during the months of April, May and June, but can also happen in late summer and early fall. When conditions prompt the urge to swarm, the colony begins to prepare for the swarm and on a predetermined signal, thousands of honey bees (the swarm) will leave the hive with the resident queen. The swarm will usually settle on something nearby - a tree, a building, lawn furniture, etc., — awaiting communication of a new nest location from their “scout bees”. Once the new nest location has been discovered, the entire swarm will relocate - usually within 24 hours — and begin the arduous job of building a new colony. In general, honey bee swarms are very docile since there is no nest to defend. But it is prudent not to disturb the bees; if you happen upon one just remain calm and quietly leave the area.

The problem begins if the scouts cannot find an optimal location for the swarm to re-locate to permanently. In this case, the swarm will move into the nearest protected area for self preservation. This is not always conducive to good neighbor relations as oftentimes it’s someone’s attic, garage, mailbox, or even an AC unit.

The nests can easily get quite large and begin causing problems within the structure itself from dripping honey and weight. To cure the problem, both the bees and the honey comb must be removed. Otherwise, the honey comb if left behind will attract another swarm of bees, or other insects, including ants and roaches, and will cause mold and mildew to form in and around the nest, as well. So, prompt action on the part of the homeowner at the first sign of the bees can minimize the possibility of future structure damage.

The Harris County Beekeepers Association (HCBA) website - www.harriscountybeekeepers.org — provides a list of association members available for phone calls relating to the retrieval of honey bee swarms, or you may contact your local Agricultural Extension Office, or a professional pest control company for assistance.